NZ Beech 18

[JW]

Does anybody know what the status of Beech 18 ZK-TEX is?

Plus has there been any other Beech 18's that have visited NZ?

Thanks

JW

[Damon]

Some dispute over engines.I doubt it will be flown for a long time.Shame really.

[Peter Lewis]

The Tongan military example has been here at times over the years.

[Bruce]

There may well be another example coming from the USA in the short - medium future, A friend of mine owns one and is planning to bring it out sometime.....

[area51]

ZK-TEX was sitting in the back of the old Confederate Air Force occupied hangar at Dairy Flat in November. I've not seen it outside for many, many years.

Both Tongan "VIP" Beech 18's have visited NZ, N500MK and AW-01.
mrcaviation.blogspot.com/2010/08/beech-18-n500mk-2005.html

[JW]

One other question in regards to ZK-TEX, was it flown to NZ or shipped?

[Dave Homewood]

It was flown across the Pacific. One of the ferry pilots wrote an article in NZ Wings when it arrived. It was quite a journey.

[JW]

Any idea what date or issue of NZ Wings the article in regards to the Beech 18 ZK-TEX flying across the Pacific?

Thanks,

JW

[Dave Homewood]

Two parter in October and November 1987, written by Aline Lewis, and entitled "From Dead Cow To Dairy Flat"

[westland831]

For what it is worth I got a photo of the Tongan Beech earlier this month...

3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/a3-land-10-days-in-tonga.html

[Peter Lewis]

The Confederate Air Force Beech D.18S used to be fairly active.

At its North Shore home 1994



Visiting Whitianga 2000

[JW]

Thanks for sharing the pics of ZK-TEX flyernzl

[Peter Lewis]

Tongan Air Wing AW-01 has patronized Ardmore at least once

At Ardmore 1998

[fauville]

North Shore Airfield open day May 1996

[JW]

Thanks again for posting the pictures of the Tongan Beech 18

[hairy]

Here's the other Tongan Beech 18. N500MK, at Ardmore on the 3rd of December 2005.




The story behind what is happening to the CAF Beech 18 is long and very complicated and not mine to tell.
But put it this way, unfortunately, it will be a very, very long time (if ever) it flies again.

[JW]

Thanks hairy for posting the shots of N500MK.

[Dave Homewood]

One of the Beech 18's from Tonga, N500MK, was just shown on the German TV network DW-TV (which we see via TV Central). It was in an article about an older pilot who I think was from Germany (I missed the beginning) who has set up a new life for himself in Tonga, flying the red and gold Beech on tourist flights. Some lovely footage from the plane flying around the coast and over the active volcanoes, etc. I'm not sure which programme it was from, but you might be able to find it on the DW-TV website.

[northcro]

This article details the acquisition and delivery flight of the Commemorative Air Force New Zealand Wing Beech D-18S from the United States to New Zealand by CAF Colonels Earl Long and Joe Cowan.

Refer www.dwss.us/Beech_Baby/Dead_Cow_To_Dairy_Flat/JC%20Flight%20to%20New%20Zealand.pdf

Unfortunately because of the dubious actions of a small group individuals and their associates who sought to destroy CAF operations in New Zealand and get control CAF NZ Wing assets including the CAF Beech C-45/D18S, Harvard's and Piper Cub, workshop and hangars for their own personal benefit has resulted in the Public Trust ultimately getting control, destroying the CAF Charitable Educational Trust that owned all CAF assets in New Zealand for the benefit of CAF members and the Public of New Zealand. This has had the effect of destroying the CAF Charitable, Educational, WWII Commemorative activities centred around the CAF Heritage Flight aircraft the CAF Heritage Museum and its fleet of military support vehicles.

Fortunately a number of exhibits in the CAF Heritage Museum and the fleet of military vehicles were personally owned by CAF members (outside the control of the dreaded Public Trust) and thus limited CAF WWII Commemorative and Educational activities have continued and will continue to grow. Watch this space as it is planned for the CAF New Zealand Wing aviation activities to be re-established with the acquisition of another unique historical ex military aircraft type in the near future. A new registered CAF Charitable Educational Trust has been established with the view of re-establishing a new CAF Military Heritage Museum in the Auckland area in the near future. More information to be announced in the near future.

[northcro]

We would also add that the three remaining CAF aircraft Beech D18S ZK-TEX and Harvard ZK-USM have languished in a fast deteriorating condition minus engines since 2005 at the CAF Base Headquarters at North Shore Airfield. The Cub ZK-BTQ the first CAF NZ Wing aircraft acquired has been in pieces with fabric removed minus engine for a number of years.

CAF members, including those who established and constructed the CAF Base Headquarters at North Shore Airfield from 1978 have been banned from the area by the Public Trust since 2005, memorials to past CAF members have been removed and destroyed, along with any identification to the CAF.

Just so criminal to see all the hard work that went into constructing, acquiring and restoring those CAF assets by past and present CAF members with the support of the public have been allowed to deteriorate badly to their present status because of greed, jealousy and the actions on the part of a few individuals with the assistance of two out of control government Departments and agencies who made it well known whose sole aim on the part of these individuals was to destroy successful CAF operations in New Zealand and to get control of CAF assets.

In 2005 the Harvard's C of A was just being signed off to return her back to the air. A pilot recruitment and training program was about to be introduced to increase the number of pilots available to fly the aircraft. The Beech's two engines were in a workshop being overhauled, to enable her to be put back in the air during 2006 with three pilots with the appropriate Beech D-18S ratings on standby to fly her and train additional pilots. Also at that time a retired RNZAF Officer with extensive aeronautical engineering experience with light aircraft and microlites was about to head a team to get selected Air Scouts and CAF members involved with the full restoration of the Cub. Negotiations were well advanced to purchase a replacement engine for the Cub.